It is no surprise that one of the world’s most enduring ancient Greek epics has been translated to film, yet again. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey brings this sweeping spectacle of a story to life with fitting scale and gusto, turning it into a riveting swords-and-sandals drama like no other.
At its core, this story — attributed to Homer — has always been about homecoming. The cunning Odysseus is forced to contend with the forces of predetermined fate, which shape his 10-year struggle to return to Ithaca and reunite with his loved ones. The meat of this tale lies in the clash between free will and destiny, along with the larger-than-life presence of gods, monsters, and everything in between.
Although Odyssey hasn’t been adapted into anime too many times, several stories mimic its core themes and colossal stakes. Mythological adaptations, Greek or otherwise, touch upon great battles and heroes, while other stories are simply about the hard-earned nature of homecoming. Here are 10 anime worth checking out if you’re fond of the overarching themes that drive foundational stories like Homer’s Odyssey.
1
Ulysses 31
A direct adaptation of the Homeric myth, Ulysses 31 provides the classic tale with a futuristic twist. Here, Ulysses commandeers the spaceship named “Odyssey” to kill a giant cyclops, which angers the Gods of Olympus. Cursed by Zeus to wander the universe with a frozen crew, Ulysses needs to find the Kingdom of Hades for this curse to be lifted, after which he can return to Earth. This brilliant mythological reimagining makes great use of standard sci-fi tropes, such as when it turns the Lotus-Eaters into an alien race addicted to amnesia-inducing seeds or the way it portrays Sirens as deceptive cosmic entities.
2
Record of Ragnarok
Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui’s Record of Ragnarok and its tournament-style myth overlap with Odyssey even though this dark fantasy tale is a mish-mash of mythological tropes. In Record of Ragnarok, the gods think humanity isn’t worth saving, given the millions of years they spent committing horrific and irredeemable crimes. While most within the Gods’ Council vote for humanity’s extinction, the valkyrie Brunhilde proposes one-on-one tournaments to help humanity prove their worth against the gods. Although there is no epic journey at the center of this story, Record of Ragnarok is primarily about humankind’s capacity to outsmart the divine and the dear cost of underestimating human intellect.
3
One Piece
Calling Odysseus’ seafaring adventure “eventful” would be the understatement of the century, but it is undoubtedly rivaled by the Straw Hats’ island-hopping adventures in One Piece. Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus consciously incorporates folklore, myth, and popular culture to weave an epic, robust story about hidden treasure, fantastical monsters, and the power of friendship. There are references to Greek myth in the form of the Gorgon sisters, especially Boa Hancock, who has direct parallels to the petrification myth about Medusa. Although One Piece tackles everything from local geopolitics to complex interpersonal dynamics, its overarching themes touch upon corrupt authority figures, personal hubris, and the idea of inherited will.
4
Vinland Saga
It is expected for a Viking anime like Vinland Saga to be fueled by a quest for revenge, but Makoto Yukimura’s manga subverts expectations by taking a deeply existential turn. The anime adaptation pulls off this tone shift rather brilliantly, given that Thorfinn Thorsson is written as a nuanced protagonist who gradually comes to understand the horrors of war and cultural violence. Like Odysseus, Thorfinn has close ties to the sea, be it when he snuck onto his father’s ship as a boy (and witnessed a tragedy) or when he decided to undertake the expedition to Vinland. His ultimate goal is to find a new home that is far removed from the chaos and instability he’s known his whole life, which gives Vinland an almost mythic sheen as a world steeped in freedom and pacifism.
5
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Outside his lifelong obsession with Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno has helmed seminal anime films like Gunbuster (1988) and Love & Pop (1998). That said, Anno’s involvement with Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is often overlooked, even though this wonderful steampunk adventure is among his finest works. Set in an alternate 1889, the story is about 14-year-old Nadia and a young French inventor named Jean, who are being chased by a group of jewel thieves. They embark on a sea journey like no other. Our gutsy duo board a submarine named the Nautilus and, along the way, encounter various sea monsters. This sprawling, multi-part journey feels like a steampunk epic in its own right, with the ultimate goal for Nadia and Jean being a triumphant return home.
6
Made in Abyss
In Made in Abyss, an orphaned child named Riko lives in the town of Orth, which has a giant, abyss-like hole in the middle filled with ancient artifacts and relics. Cave Raiders take the risk of descending into this dangerous pit to find whatever they can, but they are faced with the possibility of being cursed. The deeper they descend, the more severe the potential curse might be — reaching the deepest layers leads to certain death. Although this premise is a far cry from Odyssey, Made in Abyss centers on an epic quest that’s essentially the Hero’s Journey inside a pit filled with monsters. Riko teams up with the half-human, half-robot Reg to undertake this quest, which soon becomes a lesson in lost innocence and the hypnotic pull of the unknown.
7
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis
A quick-witted, deeply flawed protagonist is the most compelling ingredient for any good story, and Rage of Bahamut: Genesis excels on this front. Season 1 centers on Favaro Leone, a cunning and charismatic bounty hunter who lies through his teeth to get out of sticky situations. The setting is Mistarcia, a magical realm where humans, gods, and demons co-exist, working together to keep the winged demon Bahamut sealed. This is an epic tale filled with divine intervention and monstrous encounters. It even features a sea voyage during which the crew bond over their shared love for danger and adventure. The fact that a mobile card game adaptation can offer such heightened stakes is reason enough to check out this spectacular 12-episode journey.
8
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
In the distant future, 16-year-old Ensign Ledo pilots an AI-automated mecha during a war against an alien species called the Hideauze. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet puts Ledo in a precarious position when he is knocked into a wormhole and awakens on Gargantia, a massive fleet of ships on an ocean-covered planet. This is a classic homecoming story in a sci-fi mold. Ledo must also learn to adapt to his unfamiliar surroundings, much like Odysseus when he deals with the treacherous Phoenicians during his journey. It’s not far-fetched to say that Ledo’s mecha, Chamber, fulfills an Athena-like role as guide and ally, acting as the voice of reason to aid Ledo’s personal growth.
9
Berserk
Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is steeped in folkloric and mythological inspirations. It dons the cloak of a grimdark fantasy that centers on the grueling journey of a lone warrior making his way through a monster-infested world. While Guts is no Odysseus, he carries the burden of a cursed fate as he battles countless beasts in a universe that feels indifferent to his trauma. Guts’ arc hinges on the realization that blind vengeance is futile — instead, he must find a more pure motivation in protecting the ones he loves. This is easier said than done, of course, as Berserk doesn’t afford Guts the luxury of homecoming. His quest is a brutally tragic reckoning about fate versus free will. In this ongoing story, empathy and resilience become the only sources of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
10
Drifting Dragons
Humans hunt down dragons in Drifting Dragons, where these beasts provide humanity with valuable materials. Quin Zaza is one of the last remaining dragon-hunting airships in this world, whose skilled crew repeatedly ventures into the wild unknown. While Odysseus’ war-weary crew failed to survive their journey back home, those aboard the Quin Zaza are able to make it out alive due to a strong sense of camaraderie. This is a journey that matters more than the destination itself, allowing Drifting Dragons to indulge in the whimsical nature of adventuring and what it means to face danger and thrive in victory. Failure is not an option here on a road only traveled by the most courageous.
